6th Sunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle B, YearII)

Community Word:Our relationship with the Father gives us hope and fullness of life.

Theme: We receive fullness of life when we forgive others out of love and compassion.

Promise:“Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.”(Ps 32:1)

Reflection:
Fullness of life is in Christ. He is the source of life, as He is the way and the truth. The life of Jesus is fullness of life itself as exemplified by His complete submission to the will of His Father. He was totally obedient to His mission to reconcile man back with God, forgiving the sins of those who sought physical healing during His earthly ministry. And He accomplished it on the cross when He uttered these words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” (Lk 23:34), not only to those who crucified Him, but to all of mankind who has sinned and continues to sin against God. Because of this act of great love and forgiveness, “God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, thatatthenameof Jesuseverykneeshould bow,in heavenandon earthandunder the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” (Phi 2:9-11).

The theme for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time is – We receive fullness of life when we forgive others out of love and compassion. Jesus is teaching us a life of forgiveness and compassion, a way of life that He demonstrated during his earthly ministry, and for us to imitate. He wants us to be always reconciled and be one with God as well as with each other. How can we resist such a compelling mandate of compassion and love from the One whose flesh we consume and blood we drink in the Eucharist? Ignoring the call of Jesus is like turning our backs from the message of perfect love shown on the cross as He went through suffering and death for all of us.

Oftentimes, we harbor resentment and hold grudges against people who inflictedemotional pain on us, insulted our dignity, abused us, simply ignored us or not showed any care at all. And as we go through life carrying the burden of unforgiveness, we remain stressed out and unhappy, while they, on the other hand, go on with their lives. Our Lord invites us to forgive so that our hearts will be set free from hatred and negativity and will now be open as channels of God’s mercy towards us. In the Beatitudes we receive this assurance, “Blessed are the merciful, they shall have mercy shown them,” (Mt 5:7). As the Holy Spirit ministers to us, our role is to forgive and gain our emotional freedom and stability and our right standing before God. God will not be forgiving to those hearts which remain hardened with unforgiveness. Unforgiveness hinders fellowship, intimacy and communion with God. Like all of God’s commandments, this is for our inner peace and healing of mind, body and spirit.

Forgiveness is a decision to be healed of our woundedness, regardless of the emotional scars that may remain in our being. It means simply accepting that these marks are there,nonetheless, one makes a decision to be back on his feet and move on in life. Our future should not be defined by what happened to us in the past. We may remember the past, but because the grace of God enables us to forgive ourselves and others, our past hurts will no longer control who we are and what good we can do. As we forgive people who have hurt us, such emotional scars become symbols of God’s redeeming love rather than reminders of pain. As St. James wrote: “Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (Jm 2:13).

The promise this week… “Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered,” (Ps 32:1), is a reminder that for Christians who have experienced God’s mercy, we should speak to our brothers and sisters with gentleness and treat them with tenderness that flows from God’s forgiveness. Leaving behind a life of bitterness and resentment, we begin to truly fellowship with each other and enjoy the abundance and fullness of life that God’s Kingdom has prepared for those who are one with our heavenly Father.

Prayer:
Lord God, I pray that I remain worthy of Your loving care and healing. As I decide to forgive those who have hurt me, grant me the grace to triumph over my emotional pain, to be free from the enslavement of negative spirits, to replace hatred with joy and inner peace. Remove all arrogant feelings and the disappointment of other people’s shortcoming and imperfection, and allow me to be more understanding and to empathize with those who are weak and marginalized. Lord, fill the void that’s left in my heart with Your love, grace and forgiveness. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.Do you remember that one person who hurt you deeply and emotionally? Who are the people that you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from?

2.How did feel when you were able to release forgiveness to someone you vowed never to forgive?

3.Do you pray for the Holy Spirit to speak healing to your unforgiving heart and be open to His counsel to forgive and be compassionate?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 11, 2018 (Sun)- Lv 13:1, 2, 44-46/Ps 32:1, 2, 5, 11/1Cor 10:31-11:1/Mk 1:40-45
February 12, 2018 (Mon) – Jas 1:1-11/Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76/Mk 8:11-13
February 13, 2018 (Tue) – Jas 1:12-18/Ps 94:12-15, 18, 19/Mk 8:14-21
February 14, 2018 (Wed) – Jl 2:12-18/Ps 51:3-6, 12-14, 17/2Cor 5:20-6:2/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
February 15, 2018 (Thu) – Dt 30:15-20/Ps 1:1-4, 6/Lk 9:22-25
February 16, 2018 (Fri) -Is 58:1-9/Ps 51:3-6, 18-19/Mt 9:14-15
February 17, 2018 (Sat) – Is 58:9-14/Ps 86:1-6/Lk 5:27-32

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”